China Then and Now, in Pictures

It was in October 1993 when I first visited China to sniff out investment opportunities.

At the time, the Asian country was still going through an economic and existential transition that had been set off by the Tiananmen Square protests four years earlier. Along with the former Soviet Union, China had fallen out of the top 10 largest economies in the world.

How things have changed. I’ve since returned to China many times, and I’ve watched its economy grow to become the second-largest in the world. Based on purchasing power parity (PPP), it’s the largest. And according to Credit Suisse, the size of China’s middle class has for the first time overtaken the U.S. to become the world’s most populous—109 million Chinese compared to 92 million Americans.

I invite you to explore our exciting new slideshow that tells the story of how the People’s Republic of China evolved, from a struggling, divided communist nation in 1949 to an economic powerhouse today.

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Frank Holmes is CEO and chief investment officer of U.S. Global Investors, Inc., which manages a diversified family of mutual funds and hedge funds specializing in natural resources, emerging markets and infrastructure.

The company’s funds have earned more than two dozen Lipper Fund Awards and certificates since 2000. The Global Resources Fund (PSPFX) was Lipper’s top-performing global natural resources fund in 2010. In 2009, the World Precious Minerals Fund (UNWPX) was Lipper’s top-performing gold fund, the second time in four years for that achievement. In addition, both funds received 2007 and 2008 Lipper Fund Awards as the best overall funds in their respective categories.

Mr. Holmes was 2006 mining fund manager of the year for Mining Journal, a leading publication for the global resources industry, and he is co-author of “The Goldwatcher: Demystifying Gold Investing.”

He is also an advisor to the International Crisis Group, which works to resolve global conflict, and the William J. Clinton Foundation on sustainable development in nations with resource-based economies.

Mr. Holmes is a much-sought-after conference speaker and a regular commentator on financial television. He has been profiled by Fortune, Barron’s, The Financial Times and other publications.